Coqui Dorado stage race in Puero Rico – stage 2

A stage race isn’t a real stage race in Latin America without a hotdogger crit. With that requirement in the mix, the Clasico de Ciclismo Internacional El Coqui Dorado gave us a 1.5 mile loop with 80 ft of climbing per lap. Add in some light rain on the way over to moisten the course up, a couple of perfectly placed oil spills in the exit of the first turn and the course was set. The Coqui Dorado is an endemic frog to the Cayey region of Puerto Rico and is near extinction. (Not my photo since they are pretty rare)

The 6 of us rode extremely aggressively, gunning for a podium spot on the day and trying to separate Gavin on the GC from the 5 guys who were tied or within a few seconds of him in the race for 2nd place overall. We were attacking and countering for the first third of the 80 minute race, sitting on any of the top placed riders if Gavin wasn’t in the mix. Dave was riding like a man possessed and was dangling off the front for the majority of that time as riders would bridge up to him, then get spit out the back after a few laps. Gavin ended up bridging up to Dave with a small group of riders and the race was on.

A few of the guys tied with Gavin on GC made the move, but a few missed out. The rest of us locked down the field as Gavin and Dave drilled it. The gap went out to a minute before the chase got really frantic. Colin hit the deck (gingerly) after washing out in the oil slicked U turn, but got back in after a free lap.

With the gap coming down a bit, Gavin tried going solo on the final lap to get a time gap (no time bonuses) but was brought back. Dave countered and ended up getting past just in the final sprint, taking 2nd place. Gavin ended up 4th from the break as well and is still tied for 2nd place on GC with 3 other riders. Adam and Nate both put in solid sprints to finish 10th and 12th on the day.

More rice, beans, and chicken await us, as well as showering with our bikes and hand-washing our kits. Tropical storm Harvey looks like it is just starting to hit us as the sky is coming down once again. Let’s see if we can work some magic tomorrow!